Gasteria camillae

G. camillae is a cliff hanger.
© Photo Plantzafrica

Section Gasteria, Series Gasteria

Gasteria camillae has only been decribed in 2020 after having been found a couple of years earlier in the eastern part of the Baviaanskloof.

So only some juveniles are present in European collections and we have to base ourselves on pictures of the locality and SA collections. So I will follow the original description here.

It is again a cremnophyte (cliff hanger) which grows on sheer cliffs. The advantages of this habitat have already been explained under G. rawlinsonii which grows only 30km westwards.

It is also a perfect plant for a hanging pot.

G. camillae leaves look quite different than those of G. rawlinsonii . Their shape is much more like those of G. glauca.

Plant shape

G. camillae is one of the few Gasteria to have hanging stems. They are much shorter than G. rawlinsonii however. Plants hangs down sheer cliffs forming small clumps.

Leaves are elongated triangular, with a prominent margin, smooth of surface, about 10-17cm long and 2-4cm wide. They have a sharp tip.

The leaf background colour is pale to dark green, unspotted.

Plants give offshoots from the base forming clusters.

G. camillae flower: no image available

Flowers

The inflorescence is unbranched and up to 45cm long.

The flowers are about 3cm long, with a orange-pink gasteriform part and a white tube with green striations.

Variability

G. camillae doesn't have any described varieties or subspecies.

Where

G. camillae is only known from two locations in the eastern Baviaanskloof. It grows on rocky ledges and cliffs in shade.

The climate is semi-arid subtropical and can get very hot in summer.

More pics

G. camillae in the Babylonstoren collection